Tech
MINI
WORKSHOP16
19
17
20
18
21
22 23
The bumper is now put through a strike bath
which contains cyanide. This again prepares
the surface of the copper and allows for
maximum adhesion in the nickel tank. It’s
just one dangerous chemical after another...The piece is now put into the nickel tank
where it will stay for around an hour. The
plastic balls floating on the top help maintain
a constant temperature in the tank, which is
crucial to the process.Using his many years of experience, Nick
judges when the bumper is removed from
the nickel tank. As at every other stage of
platiing, the piece will be swilled and
checked once again.Spotting a few barely visible marks, Nick
returns the bumper for polishing, where the
surface is buffed with a fine compound. This
will then be cleaned and swilled again.The final stage of the plating - the chromium
tank. Temperature in the tank and ampage
through the work pieces are constantly
monitored throughout the process.As the bumper emerges, the colour of the
solution is a little misleading and masks the
fine finish which is hiding underneath.
Almost there...The bumper is rinsed off with clean water for the last time... ... which allows the final finish to shine through.Tech
MINI
WORKSHOP16
19
17
20
18
21
22 23
The bumper is now put through a strike bath
which contains cyanide. This again prepares
the surface of the copper and allows for
maximum adhesion in the nickel tank. It’s
just one dangerous chemical after another...
The piece is now put into the nickel tank
where it will stay for around an hour. The
plastic balls floating on the top help maintain
a constant temperature in the tank, which is
crucial to the process.Using his many years of experience, Nick
judges when the bumper is removed from
the nickel tank. As at every other stage of
platiing, the piece will be swilled and
checked once again.Spotting a few barely visible marks, Nick
returns the bumper for polishing, where the
surface is buffed with a fine compound. This
will then be cleaned and swilled again.
The final stage of the plating - the chromium
tank. Temperature in the tank and ampage
through the work pieces are constantly
monitored throughout the process.As the bumper emerges, the colour of the
solution is a little misleading and masks the
fine finish which is hiding underneath.
Almost there...The bumper is rinsed off with clean water for the last time... ... which allows the final finish to shine through.